24th MarchIndependent Socialists in Wellingborough will be hosting a meeting about the Junior Doctors dispute and the future of the NHS. There will be a representative of the British Medical Association and/or a Junior Doctor spokesperson. The meeting starts at 8.00pm in the Rising Sun pub, corner of Canon Street and Mill Road, Wellingborough. Contact Paul Crofts paulcrofts@gmail.com

5th April: Save Northants Services (SNS) meeting. Venue to be decided. If anyone can help with finding one (preferably free, cheap and with good access) please let Paul know paulcrofts@gmail.com

16th April (Sat) People’s Assembly March/Demo for Homes, Health, Education and Jobs. Go to the events page via http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk for details. If anyone is organising a coach let me know and I can advertise it.

Events

14th October Monday 7.15: Old Black Lion, 1, Black Lion Hill, Northampton Alliance to Defend Services meeting to discuss the way forward. Let Ron know by Sat evening if you will be there as it will only go ahead if there is adequate attendance.

20th October Sunday: Red Rope Walk. Meet at 10.30 a.m. at the LONG STAY car park at Foxton Locks, near Market Harborough, G.R.

Reports

Ron has written a report on the NCC Unison demo, the Conservative Party Conference Manchester demo and also on the Nene Commissioning/Healthwatch ‘consultation’ event held this week. Please could everyone read it. His conclusions on the health event are very important, as they confirm that cuts are likely to be made and also that budgetary constraints may be used to justify the privatisation of health services. REPORT FOR NTUC NEWSLETTER 2.

Red Rope Walk Details

After a short walk along the Grand Union Canal we will arrive at Foxton Locks, an amazing complex of ten locks with balancing ponds constructed in 1814 and the remains of a steam powered incline barge lift that was in use from 1900 to 1911. The walk then passes through rolling pasture land via Lubenham,and on to Saddington with a possible pub stop (no own food).

The next stage of the walk joins the Leicester Round Footpath and is hilly and very scenic with superb 360 degree views from Smeeton Hill. The high ground ends after we pass through the village of Gumley and the final stretch of the walk is easy walking over grasslands and back along the canal to Foxton Locks.Please bring some food to be eaten al-fresco. Any dogs must be kept under close control at all times due to livestock in the fields.For any further details and possible car share from Northampton, please contact Roger at – altstratgroup@gmail.com

Shrewsbury 24 Campaign. The Shrewsbury 24 were building workers who took part in the first ever national building strike in 1972. It was successful, but 5 months later the pickets were arrested and charged in relation to the picketing – conspiracy to intimidate, affray and unlawful assembly. Six were imprisoned, with Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson (the actor) doing the longest periods. The campaign believes they were innocent but the Government is withholding papers about it under a section of the Freedom of Information Act relating to National Security. Please download the petition and get others to sign it: http://www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk/

Hi, I am slowly getting the hang of writing blogs, but please bear with any errors of format and style!

Events

Wed 20th March: Please support the PCS action by calling in on a picket line. They will be in the usual places, including Northgate House in Sheep St, the MOJ Bulk Centre in St Katherines St, the Job Centre in the Lower Mounts and the courts from 7.30. There will be a gathering for a photo call at some stage – we’ll try and get more details out later.

Sat 23rd March am: Help is needed for the NHS action on staff shortages, bed shortages etc at NGH, planned by Northampton Reclaim Our NHS group and supported by NADS and NTUC. There will be some street theatre with people dressed as doctors, nurses and patients, but if you don’t fancy that, people will be needed for the stall and giving out leaflets. Please contact Ron Mendel or Ben King. Details of event tbc.

Also on the 23rd :

The Labour Party has a conference on Education Policy 10 -12.30 at University of Northampton, Park Campus Sulgrave Building. Target participants are Labour Party members, Labour Party supporters, local educators. The purpose of the seminar is to consider current trends in education 5 – 19, and consider a Northampton contribution to national policy.There will be speakers and workshops on academies, the

Steve Gillan POA. The entrance fee is £6. Cheques can be made payable to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ – either email info@shopstewards.net or reply to PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE

Other union news

Unite members: there will be a General Secretary Election Meeting at the Cotton Club, Main Rd Far Cotton, NN4 8EN on Wed 20th March at 7.30. All members welcome.

The FBU is campaigning against the Public Public Sector Pensions Bill which will raise the age of retirement for firefighters to 60. Yet its own report published earlier this year shows most firefighters cannot work safely until that age. More info from the FBU website.

Health and Safety

Hazards at Work – get your copy now! The new edition of the TUC’s best-selling guide to health and safety at work it out now. It is used by reps, officers, employers, professionals in the field and even enforcement officers. Find out more, including how to get hold of your copy click here: Hazards at Work

This is the core course for trade union health and safety representatives. It is the first stage in the TUC health and safety training programme. It is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to carry out your work as a safety rep. If you would like to register for the course please click here and complete the form.

If you require any further information about this course please contact:-
TUC Education Online tuceducationhelp@tuc.org.uk tel: 020 7079 6929.

TUC ‘Green’ Budget Submission 2013

Industrial policy for the green economy: The TUC’s ‘Green’ Budget submission calls for a